STRETCH Gifted Program
Welcome to Mehlville Gifted Education
The Mehlville School District Gifted Education program provides unique learning experiences for intellectually advanced students in grades K-8. This advanced capacity requires modification to the regular curriculum to ensure students are challenged. These students also benefit from opportunities to regularly interact with their intellectual peers in a setting that nurtures their academic, intellectual and social/emotional development.
STRETCH (Supplementary Teaching Resources for Educationally Talented Children) is the gifted education program for Mehlville Schools. Identified students in grades 1-5 attend classes once a week at the STRETCH Center, located at Washington Middle School. Students in grades 6-8 participate in program activities as part of their daily school schedule.
STRETCH is a state-assisted program and therefore must comply with state guidelines.
Gifted Identification Process
Universal Screening
All Mehlville 1st and 4th grade students participate in the nationally normed gifted pathway assessment series for universal consideration. The assessment series measures verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative reasoning skills. Families are notified if their student is moving forward in the process.
Teacher Recommendation
Teacher recommendations will be accepted for students in kindergarten and grades 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. These are requested at the end of the first semester with the gifted pathway assessment series being administered early in the second semester. This same process is followed for parochial students who reside within the Mehlville School District. Like with the universal screening process, families are notified if their student is moving forward.
Further Assessment
Should further assessment be required, students will be invited to complete individual IQ testing administered by a School Psychologist.
Transfer Students
Students transferring into Mehlville Schools may submit results from intelligence tests administered by their former school district. The tests must be the same as or comparable to those used by Mehlville Gifted Education.
Students with scores at or above the 95th percentile will be considered for STRETCH. Our office must receive test results at least one week before the start of each semester. Information received after this point will be considered for the following semester's admissions process.
2026-2027 STRETCH Supplies
All 1st-5th graders:
A Mead 2-pocket folder with prongs or similar (these go on sale during back to school but pick up early - your child will keep this all throughout their time at STRETCH!)
- 1st grade: orange
- 2nd grade: yellow
- 3rd grade: green
- 4th grade: blue
- 5th grade: red
Each grade level is also responsible for the following shared supplies:
- 1st grade - foaming soap
- 2nd grade - 1 Box Crayola Markers
- 3rd grade - Roll of paper towels
- 4th grade - 2 square boxes of tissues
- 5th grade - package of glue sticks and bottle of glue
New for 2026-2027 School Year:
A spiral folder (the 12-pocket one with the pocket in the back; not the 18-pocket one) or similar if you can find it cheaper elsewhere [order early – they tend to sell out in August!]
Optional:
The STRETCH teachers welcome donations from our Amazon wish list!
STRETCH Schedules and Calendars
The STRETCH Center is located at Washington Middle School, 5165 Ambs Road, St. Louis, MO 63128.
Listed below are days off and changes to the regular calendar that you will need to know. There may be a few changes to this schedule, and we will inform you as soon as possible when they occur.
Class Hours
Monday - Oakville and Blades: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Tuesday - Beasley, Forder and Bierbaum: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Wednesday - Rogers and Point: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Thursday - MOSAIC and Wohlwend: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Friday - Hagemann and Trautwein: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Second Semester Calendar
January 6 (Tuesday) - STRETCH Classes Resume (2nd semester begins!)
January 19 (Monday) - No School
February 13 (Friday) - No School
February 16 (Monday) - No School
February 27 - 3rd grade Creative Convention
March 13 (Friday) No School
March 16 - 20 - No school – Spring Break
March 30 - April 3 - Field Trip Week (Day of the week will be determined by grade level)
April 6 (Monday) - No School
April 7 (Tuesday) - Professional Development Day - No School
May 7 (Thursday) - STRETCH Spring Showcase
May 15 (Friday) - Last Day of STRETCH (tentative)
Contact information
If you have questions about your child's STRETCH class, please contact the teacher.
Dr. Whitney Maus
Executive Director of Teacher, Learning and Professional Development
314-467-5156
mausw@msdr9.org
Dr. Christy Mathews
Director - PLC and Interventions & Supporting Director for Gifted Education
314-467-7845
cmathews@msdr9.org
Shawna Olejniczak
School Psychologist
314-467-7955
olejniczaks@msdr9.org
Amanda Hebden
Administrative Assistant - Gifted Education
314-467-5155
hebdena@msdr9.org